Latest Updates

Ex-Flame Westgarth Signs With EIHL Team

News:Kevin Westgarth signed with the Stena Line Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League on Thursday.

Analysis:Kevin Westgarth will head to Northern Ireland after failing to win a roster spot with the Oilers in training camp as a professional tryout. The enforcer has logged 169 games in the NHL during stints with the Kings, Hurricanes and Flames.

Westgarth To Try Out With Oilers

News:Kevin Westgarth signed a professional tryout with the Oilers and will join the team for training camp, NHL.com's Aaron Vickers reports.

Analysis:Kevin Westgarth is nothing more than a checking-line pugilist, giving him value primarily in leagues that count penalty minutes. He'll first have to impress the Oilers in training camp before he gets the opportunity to reprise his enforcer role.

Flames' Westgarth Scores Rare Goal Friday

News:Kevin Westgarth scored just his third goal of the season during the Flames come-from-behind victory over the Rangers on Friday.

Analysis: The 30-year-old minor league veteran couldn't have found a better time to score as he potted the game-tying goal late in the second period. He now has two goals and one assist over his last four games giving him a whopping total of six points over 40 games this season.

Flames' Westgarth Returning Wednesday

News:Kevin Westgarth (head) will return to the lineup Wednesday against the Ducks, the Calgary Herald reports.

Analysis:Kevin Westgarth suffered the injury on March 1 during a fight with the Oilers' Luke Gazdic, but will draw back into the lineup Wednesday. The winger has one goal, one assist, and 41 PIM in 32 games to date.

Flames' Westgarth Likely To Resume Action Soon

News:Kevin Westgarth (head) is considered very close to returning, Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan reports.

Analysis: After skating in a regular jersey at Monday's morning session, Kevin Westgarth could return to action as early as Wednesday's game vs. the Ducks if all continues to go well in his recovery over the next couple of days. Westgarth will miss his fifth game in a row Monday with the head injury.

Flames' Westgarth Returning To Calgary

Analysis:Kevin Westgarth was knocked out in a fight Saturday and will likely be out for the near future. As an enforcer with quite a few fights under his belt, the Flames don't want to take any chances with a head injury.

Calgary's Westgarth Gets First Goal

News:Kevin Westgarth netted his first goal of the season in a 3-2 loss to the Sharks on Monday.

Analysis:Kevin Westgarth followed up his game misconduct two seconds into Saturday's game with a surprising burst of offense. He isn't in Calgary for his scoring, however, as in 11 games he's averaging less than 10 minutes per contest and has 28 penalty minutes to show for it.

Canes Trade Westgarth To Flames

News:Kevin Westgarth has been traded from Carolina to Calgary in exchange for forward Greg Nemisz, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.

Analysis: A healthy scratch in every contest since Dec. 10, Kevin Westgarth may have an opportunity for more playing time in his new home. He hasn't scored a point in 12 appearances this season, and has just nine points (three goals) through 133 career games.

Westgarth Riding Pine For Canes

Analysis: With the recent return of Alexander Semin (concussion) to the lineup, Kevin Westgarth is looking like the odd man out in Raleigh for the time being. With zero points in 12 games this season, he doesn't merit much fantasy consideration anyway.

Canes' Westgarth: Two-Game Suspension

News:Kevin Westgarth was handed a two-game suspension Tuesday as a result of his illegal hit on Ottawa's Mark Borowiecki during Sunday's game, Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Analysis: As a light-scoring fourth-liner, Kevin Westgarth is a rather expendable player the Canes can afford to be without for a couple games. The winger will be eligible to return Sunday against the Canucks.

Canes' Westgarth Faces Disciplinary Action

News:Kevin Westgarth is scheduled to have a hearing Tuesday for his hit on Ottawa defenseman Mark Borowiecki on Sunday, Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Analysis:Kevin Westgarth was penalized for boarding following the hit, while Borowiecki was helped off the ice and did not return to the game. With just nine points over the past four seasons combined, Westgarth is a marginal NHL player at best, and his absence shouldn't cause fantasy owners any undue stress.

Canes' Westgarth To Play Saturday

Analysis:Kevin Westgarth has practiced for a few days now and appears set to rejoin the lineup as a member of the fourth line with Manny Malhotra and Drayson Bowman. He last suited up Oct. 28 against the Penguins, missing 10 games since that time.

Canes' Westgarth Puts In Another Practice

News:Kevin Westgarth (upper body) practiced again for the Hurricanes on Tuesday, Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Analysis:Kevin Westgarth is now taking part in full-contact work after being limited most of last week. The forward has missed the past nine games with the injury, but could be on track to return later this week.

Canes' Westgarth Practices Thursday

Analysis: Coach Kirk Muller characterized Kevin Westgarth as day-to-day, so it seems plausible that he could return to the lineup next week if he gets a full practice in before the weekend comes to a close. Westgarth was quite often a healthy scratch for games before sustaining the injury, so it's more likely than not he makes a minimal impact once he's cleared to reenter the lineup.

Canes' Westgarth Expected Back Shortly

News:Kevin Westgarth (upper body) is expected to return to action in a few days, Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Analysis:Kevin Westgarth has sat out the last five games due to the injury. He's typically a fourth-liner or a healthy scratch on nights when he's active anyway, so there's not much incentive for the 'Canes to rush the winger back into the lineup.

Hurricanes Get Westgarth

News: The Hurricanes have acquired Kevin Westgarth from the Kings for Anthony Stewart, a 2013 fourth-round draft pick and a sixth-round choice in the 2014 draft, the team's official site reports. "We were looking for a character, team guy who can play a gritty role for our team," said GM Jim Rutherford. "Kevin is a good addition to fill that spot."

Analysis:Kevin Westgarth played 25 games with Los Angeles last season, recording two points and 39 penalty minutes. He's only of note in fantasy formats where PIMs are at a premium.

Off to Sin Bin for LA's Westgarth

News: The zebras slapped 12 penalty minutes on Westgarth in Saturday's game against the Islanders.

Analysis: We were waiting for a night like this. He previously had just 10 PIMs in 11 contests. There's only one reason for you to own Westgarth (unless you're related to him), and that's to collect penalty-box time.

Kings enforcer Westgarth closer to eanring roster spot

News: Westgarth has the inside track on earning a spot on the team's fourth line, the LA Kings Insider reports.

Analysis: Westgarth has topped 160 PIMs in each of his last three years in the AHL and the departure of Raitis Ivanans opens up the enforcer role on the Kings if they decide to go that route on a nightly basis. He may not chip in much offensively but could be a sneaky draft day target for those leagues with PIMs as a scoring category.

Kings sign RFA Westgarth

Analysis: The 25-year-old right winger had no points and nine penalty minutes in nine games last season, his first in the NHL. He also spent time with the AHL's Manchester Monarchs, recoding four goals, 10 points and 165 penalty minutes in 65 games. Westgarth has pretty much been a checking-line forward in his pro career and is merely a Fantasy flier for leagues that reward heavily for PIM whenever he is in the NHL.

Westgarth makes NHL debut

News:The Sports Xchange reports that Kings RW Kevin Westgarth, called up from Manchester of the American Hockey League last week, made his NHL debut on a line with LW Raitis Ivanans and C Derek Armstrong in Tuesday's win over the Wild. Westgarth, known in the minor leagues for his toughness and fighting, had been a healthy scratch in the previous two games. Westgarth played 4 minutes, 39 seconds, and recorded one hit.

Analysis: The former Princeton Tiger and non-drafted rookie has been toiling in the minors the last three seasons and has pretty much become an enforcer. He is nothing more than a flier in leagues that reward heavily for PIM when in the NHL.

Westgarth summoned by Los Angeles

News: The Kings recalled RW Kevin Westgarth from Manchester of the AHL Wednesday. Westgarth had five points (one goal) in 37 games with Manchester.

Analysis: The former Princeton Tiger and non-drafted rookie has been toiling in the minors the last three seasons and has pretty much become an enforcer. He is nothing more than a flier in leagues that reward heavily for PIM when in the NHL.